Barbour County index. [volume] (Medicine Lodge, Kan.) 1880-current, 1887-05-04
Miss Smith started back involuntari-

Miss Smith started back lnVOluntarl-
~.
MERCY on usr' she exclaimed.
"Why don't YOU speak little louder"
she added, in n sarcastic sort of roar.
IL said fourteen, marm-in my tif-
tecnth year, Tad yelled, with the full
power of his lungs; for, unfortunately,
he took her ironical suggestion in per-
feet good-faith.
Miss Smith dropped the rake-handle,
and sat down on the piazza steps.
Joe, whoGs face was of a lively purple
which extended to his ear-tips, began
to edge toward the gate.
"lou won't do, boy" screamed Miss
Smith, so shrilly that John Doty, who
was blowing in an adjoining field,
stopped his oxen and looked wonder
ingly across at the ''old Smith place."
as it was locally called, while Sal
mantha Mason, Miss Smiths "hired
help" rushed bare-armed from the
kitchen, with vague impression that
Miss Smith was in Mysteries.
IL can't hire any one as deaf as you
blOod-vessel hollering to you," con-
tinued Miss Smith in the same high
KEY, as Tad stood COMPOUNDED and de-
spondent at her abrupt refusal; ''be-
sides, I'm not so hard of hearing as
all that comes to, and your voice goes
through my head like knife-yah-h-h"
with which concluding ejaculation
Miss Smith put her hands to the
sides of her pasteboard sun-bOnnet and
shuddered. why, amt deaf, marm!'
wonderingly exclaimed Tad. dropping
his voice several octaves, land l
wouldn't have spoke so loud only Joe
said you was hard of hearing. an if he
was me he'd speak up good and loud. "
Joe could stand it no longer. With
an explosive yell of laughter he lodged
through the gate, and, dropping in the
green sward, at q safe distance,
doubled himself up in an ecstasy of un-
seemly mirth.
Joe Whitney, gasped Miss Smith.
starting TO her feet and shaking her
finger threatening in the direction Of
the PROSTATE practical joker, rs the
truth of the matter flashed across her
mind, '.you see if your father don't
hear of this, sir!''
But her Indignation was always
short lived, and gradually a grim smile
softcncd the hard lines of her face,
though the overshadowing head-gear
hid it from Tad's anxious gaze.
"And so you want place, eh?" she
said, abruptly, but not unkindly, as
she turned her sharp gray eyes full
upon Tad, who was looking reproach-
fully ut Joe as, having risen, ht
cautiously advanced within earshot.
IF you please, marm." was the re
spectful answer. and Tad looked plead
ingly up ut the maiden lady as h,
spoke. Something in his thin, pail
face moved Miss Smiths heart curl
ously.
The boys who had worked for he
from time to time had generally beer
unintelligcnt. brown-faced boys, wit
large appetites and tenency to idl
away as much time as they possibl
could.
Hes got a look 1 kind of like
though he is a pindling sort of a boy,
thought Miss Smith, rubbing her nos
reflectively.
Don't You dare enter that gate
Joseph Whitney, she exclaimed, wit
: sudden energy, as Joe, with traces c
| his recent mirth on his features, edge
. himself along the front fence.
'.No, marm," responded Joe, in
{ voice suggestive of the deepest contr
ton. Affecting to be overcome wit
/ remorseful sorrow, he applied a sma
: red-boardered cotton handkerchief {
a his eyes, and sObbed HISTORICALLY. aftt
{ which. twisting it between his finger
he feigned to wiring tears of bits
. grief from its folds.
4 Turning her back upon the arch di
, scmbler, Miss Smith proceeded 10 pl
G Tad through rapid course of question
:, ing. Did he smoke or swear? Had I
8 been vaccinatedP Were his father an
!. mother living? Had he been to schoo
r What church did he attendP-apd
!. few other queries, of similar import
|, On all points except that Of churc
: going Tad's answers were very sati
v factory; and Miss Smith graciousi, a
: mitted that his lack of clothes was
tolerably reasonable excuse for his
tIciency in that one respect
d lTo BIZ CONTINUED